So, apparently, 120 people got Montenegrin citizenship just for buying apartments in two real estate projects in Tivat. I wish this was some kind of twisted joke, but no it`s just another day in a country that feels like a parody of itself.
There two projects, officially listed by the Montenegrin government as “tourist development investments of special importance,“ have been part of a program meant to attract foreign investors. And, well, it worked at least for the investors. According to the latest government report, out of 146 applications for economic citizenship tied to apartment purchases in the Boka Place complex (part of Porto Montenegro), 119 were approved, while 23 were rejected.
Another project, the “Tivat“ hotel-apartment complex, received five applications. Of those, only one was approved, while three were rejected. (And I guess the last one is just floating in bureaucratic limbo somewhere).
For this project, the investor was sent an official request on October 17,2024, to submit a report from an independent auditor. That report (or rather, four draft reports) finally made its way to the Ministry of Regional Investment Development and Cooperation with NGOs on February 10, 2025, and is now being reviewed.
As for the actual construction, the hotel is supposed to be finished by March 31, 2026. To back it all up, a bank guarantee of €1,000,000 has been submitted, valid until May 1, 2026.
All of this was outlined in a report recently reviewed by the government. Now, whether everything actually goes according to plan is a whole different story.
Now, let`s be real this whole “economic citizenship“ thing is nothing new, and it`s happening in plenty of other countries. But the way it`s playing out here just makes you question everything. Are these “investments“ actually helping Montenegro develop, or are we just handing out passports to the highest bidder while pretending it`s some grand economic strategy? At this point, it feels like the latter.
It`s wiled to think about at this rate, Montenegrins might become a minority in their own country. If the government keeps handing out passports like candy to wealthy foreigners just because they bought an apartment, what does that mean for the future of the country?
Citizenship should be about more than just money, it should come with a connection to the place, its people, and its culture. But instead, it feels like it`s turning into a business transaction, where the highest bidder gets a say in a country, they may never truly be part of. Meanwhile, locals are struggling with low wages, rising property prices, and the feeling that their own country is slipping out of their hands.
Written by our correspondent A.A.
